Match Report – Cup and Shield Semi Finals

During last week a number of clubs discussed the issue of Eid Ul Adha which has now been announced as taking place for the majority on Sunday, 10th July 2022 with some communities possibly celebrating on Saturday, 9th July 2022.

The member clubs agreed at the league’s last AGM to cancel all games if either Eid fell on Sunday for the majority, Fixtures on the 2nd May 2022 were cancelled and all clubs in the Crescent Section were avoided 6 points. The same will also apply to all the fixtures for the 10th July after the matters was discussed by the committee. The league will update the league tables with 6 points for the fixtures that will be cancelled on the 10th July 2022.

The first game to complete in the semi finals was that of Wakefield Stars who bowled Mylahore Tabs B for just 68 runs, Wakefield Stars chased the total in the 16th over with the loss of 4 wickets.

The other Semi Final Shield game between Kings XI and Central Leeds played at Park Avenue. Kings XI won the toss and elected to bat first. They were limited to 137 before being bowled out, in return Central Leeds chased the total with the loss of 5 wickets. The innings of Kyle De Wet (83) secured a place in the final for Central Leeds.

Both Darulshafa and Karmand will be in a state of shock as both looked well on the way to securing a place in the Cup Final, Karmand had Bhalot 75 for 7 at the end of the 17th over, the partnership of Umar Abbas and Aqsad Ali changed the game as they took the game away from Karmand and ended up all out on the last bowl of their innings with a target of 223 to defend. Karmand batted positively in the first 5 overs but struggled to push the same momentum for the rest of the game, Bhalot restricted Karmand to less then 4 runs an over, requiring them to score 97 runs in the last 10 overs. Karmand were eventually all bowled out in the 41st overs (games reduced to 43 overs due to rain) on 155.

Darulshafa won the loss and put Rajput into bat. Rajput got of to a good start and at the 13th over were 72 for 2, Darulshafa fought back and restricted Raput to 87 for 2 by the 19th overs. In the next 20 over Rajput scored 92 runs to take them to 179 for 8 with 5 over to go, Rajput were all bowled out on 199. Darulshafa got of to a commanding start as they hit 116 in the first 16 overs without a loss of a wicket, Waheed Akhtar (75) and Bilal Ejaz (64) gave them a start they needed and well within the reach of their target but it was just not to be for them this second time round as the bowling of Zahid Khaliq (5 for 25) restricted the away side to 175 before being bowled out.